Check bus drivers' backgrounds
The wreckage of a tour bus that crashed in the Bronx, killing 15 people (March 12, 2011) Credit: AP
Charter buses may be a cheap way to travel, but they aren't the safest. In response to the recent string of tour-bus accidents that's left a number of pedestrians and drivers dead or injured, New York authorities are cracking down on vehicle inspection. But there's still a need for better scrutiny of those driving the bus.
State Sen. Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) has introduced legislation that would require any commercial driver, including bus operators, to submit to a criminal background check before being hired. Current law only requires school bus drivers to submit any criminal history, leaving the commercial bus industry unregulated and potentially deadly.
The driver of the tour bus that crashed in the Bronx in March, killing 15 passengers, had prior convictions for manslaughter and larceny, and allegedly was driving with a suspended license.
Prosecutors said another tour-bus driver, who was charged with reckless endangerment after almost hitting a New York City police officer in May, had his driver's license revoked 14 times.
Drivers with criminal histories or poor driving records don't belong behind the wheel, placing pedestrians and passengers in harm's way.
The bill has passed the Senate, but the Assembly left Albany without enacting it. The legislation should be on the top of the list when the Assembly returns. New York State needs a better process to make sure that both buses and their drivers are reliable. hN
